Pencil



Nov. 28, 1939. M. E. TROLLEN PENCIL Filed Aug. 23, 1937 A TT ORNEYS.

l l l Patented Nov. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PENCIL Martin E. Tranen, st.

Paul, Minn., assignor to l Brown & Bigelow, St. Paul, Minn.,`a.corpora tion of Minnesota Application August 23, 1937, Serial No. 160,364

Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in pencils, of the automatic type, and more especially to those types of pencils formed partially of a plastic or of some similar composition.

Automatic pencils have been manufactured for a number of years. 'Ihese pencils in general cornprise a narrow portion and a mechanism portion which extends into the barrel to move the lead. Many of these automatic pencils were formerly constructed with Wooden barrels. With the increasing use of plastic materials, however, such as the various cellulosic products, as well as the various resinous compounds,it has been found that lighter weight and more attractive barrels may be more cheaply formed of these compounds. Accordingly, one of the problems involved in the manufacture of pencils has become the formation of the barrel portion of plastic material and the manner in which this plastic material may be most effectively used to provide the desired strength and to most effectively secure the working parts of the pencil together. r

It is `accordingly a feature of the present invention to provide a pencil having a plastic barrel,

the plastic portions of the same in a manner to provide the greatest possible strength with a minimum weight. The plastic portions of the pencil are connected to the metallic portions of the same very effectively, and at the same time the pencil may be assembled at an extremely low cost. This fact is of an importance in the manufacture of pencils, as this business is extremely competitive and the pencils must be manufactured for the lowest possible cost.

It is a feature of my invention to mold the metallic tip of the pencil so that it is embedded in the molded portion of the barrel, in order that this tip portion may never become loose on the barrel. The metallic barrel tip is subject to` some considerable strain, both internal and external.

There is always a tendency for the tip to be forcedaway from the barrel by the lead propelling mech` anism, particularly when the lead becomes extremely short. There is always a bending strain on the pencil tip when the pencil is used. ForA this reason, it is extremely necessary to anchor the tip firmly to the barrel and this is accommolded material.

It is a feature of the present invention to attach athreaded tube forming a part of the lead propelling mechanism to the plastic barrel of the pencil by flaring the outward end of the tube over 525.1 an internal shoulder on the barrel. Itis obvious and to attach the working parts of the pencil toV plished by embedding the tip directly in the (Cl. 1Z0-18) that the tube cannot be separated from the barrel after the end of the tube has been flared without either breaking the shoulder orv bendingthe flared end of the tube into cylindrical form.

It is a feature of the present invention to flare the end of the tube over an internal shoulder Within the barrel so that the pressure of the tube upon the shoulder as the tube is flared may be resisted by a supporting means engaging thel shoulder within the barrel so thatthe external surface of the barrel is not marked. Without an arrangement of this sort, each of the plastic barrels would be marked externally, marring their appearance.

It is a feature of my invention to attach a rotatable member for propelling the lead 4to the cap of the pencil byl flaring the endr of the propelling mechanism. This flaring is also accomplished without marring the external surface of the cap. Tnemanner in which this is accomplished forms a feature of my invention.

A further feature of my invention resides in a manner of lreinforcing the barrel, so that the clip which is usually attached to thebarrel may be connected thereto rigidlyl and securely. It will be understood that these clips are usually held in place merely by ears formed on the clip which are bent over the inner surface of the barrel. It is not unlikely that ears of this sort extending over a small area of the plastic material, would pull away or otherwise injure the plastic material adjacent the ears, if no reinforcingy means were provided therefor. I obviate any danger of the clips becoming loose by inserting within the barrel a light sleeve of metal or other material through which' the ears may extend and bend over. This sleeve reinforces the plastic material adjacent the clip connectionand prevents any injury to the barrel by the clip.

`These and other features and objects of my invention willube more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawing forming a part of my specification:Y

Figure l is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the center of my assembled pencil, illustrating the relationship of the various parts.

y Figure 2 is .a cross-sectional view through the barrel portion of my pencil with the operating mechanism to which the cap of the pencil is secured, removed.

Figure 3' is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the cap and the operating mechanism of my pencil, illustrating the construction thereof. vhFigure 4 is across-sectional view transversely through the pencil and through the end of the clip, the section being taken along the line indicated by 4-4 in Figure 1 of the drawing.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view through the attaching end of the clip and the barrel illustrating the inner reinforcing sleeve, the section being indicated by the line 5 5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a transverse cross-sectional View through the pencil, the point of section being indicated by the line 6 5 in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view through the pencil cap, the section being taken along a line indicated by the line 1 1 of Figure 3.

The pencil A comprises two main portions, the cap and operating mechanism portion B, best illustrated in Figure `3 of the drawing, and the barrel portion C. The barrel portion C comprises a tip Ill formed of metal. The tip I0 -is provided with a tapered portion I I and an anchoring portion I2. The anchoring portion consists in an axially extending sleeve having angular anchoring flanges I3 extending about the same. The portion I2 of the tip I6 is embedded within the lower barrel portion I4, a portion I5 of which is tapered in continuation of the taper of the metallic tip Ill and the remaining portion of which is cylindrical. An axially extending sleeve I6 projects from the upper surface of the lower barrel portion I4 to be secured in overlapping relation with the upper portion I1 of the barrel.

The upper portion I1 of the barrel is hollow and cylindrical in the form of a tube, andis provided with an inwardly extending shoulder I9. A threaded tube 20 having an outer diameter somewhat smaller than theinner diameter of the barrel I1, extends within the shoulder I9 and the upper extremity of this tube is flared outwardly at 2l. In order to flare the tube 2D outwardly at 2I without injuring the surface of the pencil, the tube 20 may be extended into a tubular mandrel which would extend between the tube 26 and the barrel I1. As the outer extremity 2| of the tube 26 is ared outwardly by means of a suitable rotary tool, the pressure is exerted through the shoulder I5 to the tubular mandrel, and the outer surface of the pencil is not marked.

A cylindrical hollow sleeve 22 is positioned within the upper extremity of the upper portion I1 of the barrel. 'I'his sleeve 22 is held in place by ears 23 which extend through the barrel I1 and through openings in the sleeve 22. The ends 24 of the ears 23 are bent over the sleeve 22 to anchor the clip 25 securely in position. As the upper portion of the clip 25 overlies a relatively large surface of the outside of the barrel I1, and as the ears 23 bend over the reinforcing sleeve 22, the plastic material is not injured through continual use of the clip 25. f

When the upper portion I1 of the barrel has been formed, and the tube 20 is extending out of the same, this tube 26 is inserted in an aperture 23 in the lower portion I4 of the barrel, and the upper and lower portions I1 and I4 respectively, are connected together by means of a suitable adhesive or by inserting solvent at the joint which dissolves the plastic material adjacent the joint and permits this material to harden in one piece. When the lower portion I4 is joined to the upper portion I1 of the barrel, and the clip has been applied, the barrel portion C will be complete and in the form illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing. The cap 21, or head end of the pencil, forming a part of the cap and mechanism portion B -of the pencil, is provided with an .axialrecess 23 4in the end of the same to accommodate an eraser 30 anchored within a substantially U-shaped metal clip 3I. The clip 3| is provided with inwardly extending prongs 32 which engage into the body of the eraser 30. This clip or strip 3| makes it easier to insert the eraser 3U into the end of the pencil.

The lower end of the cap 21 is provided with an extending cylindrical sleeve 33, bearing an expansion spring in the form of a split ring and indicated in the drawing at 34. This spring 34 is compressed slightly as the upper extremity or" the barrel portion I1 including the metal sleeve 22 is inserted over this spring 34. The barrel portion C of the pencil is accordingly held to the cap and operating mechanism portion B of the same by spring tension. The spring 34 is held in place by a collar 35 which extends over the tubular member 36 and frictionally engages the same tightly.

spaced inwardly from the outer walls of the head or cap of the pencil, I provide an upwardly extending sleeve 31. As illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawing, this sleeve 31 is connected to the outer wall o f the cap by angularly spaced webbed portions 39 which reinforce the sleeve 37. The tubular member 36 is flared outwardly at its upward extremity, indicated by the numeral 4D, and during the aring of the upper end of the tube 36, fingers may extend between the outer wall of the head or cap portion of the pencil and the sleve 31 to reinforce this sleeve.

The tube 36 is grooved along one side 4I thereof, and the lead propelling means 42 is provided with projections 43 which extend through the slot 4I and engage the threads of the tube 20. The lead propelling means 42 is provided with a spring end 44 which engages the side of the tube 36 opposite to the slot 4I to hold the projections 43 in engagement with the threadable tube 20. 'Ihe end of the lead propelling means 42 is in the form of a rod 45, and a sleeve 46 is mounted on the end of this rod 45, which sleeve engages the inner end of the lead 41. The tip I0 is provided with an aperture 49 sufciently large to accommodate the sleeve 46, and is provided at the extreme end with a smaller aperture 5I) of proper size to t around the lead 41. The lead propelling mechanism 42 moves downwardly until the sleeve 46 engages the end of the aperture 50 within the tip I0, and further downward movement of the lead propelling mechanism 42 moves the rod downwardly with respect to the sleeve 46 to force the lead 41 out through the aperture 50.

It may be seen that in the construction illustrated, the threaded tube 20 is secured to the upper portion I1 of the barrel by the Haring 2l of the upper end of the tube 20, and that the upper portion of the barrel I1 is secured to the lower portion I4 of the barrel by a suitable adhesive or by a solvent which joins the members I4 and I1 integrally together. The tube 36 is likewise connected to the cap 29 by the flaring 40 of the upper end of this tube 36, and the tube 36 cannot move upwardly with respect to the cap 29 because of the collar 35 which frictionally engages the tube 36. Rotation of the tube 36 by means of the cap 21 acts to rotate the member 42 which engages in the inserted tube 2U. Accordingly, rotation of the head 21 in a clockwise direction, urges the lead downwardly through the aperture 5i), whereas, rotation of the head 21 in an anti-clockwise direction withdraws the lead 41 from the aperture 50.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described the principles of construction .of my pencil, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that this is only illustrative of a means of carrying out my invention, and that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

l. A pencil including a two part plastic barrel, a threaded tube within said barrel and spaced from one part thereof throughout the major portion of its length, an internal shoulder on said one part said barrel, and a flared end on said tube extending over said shoulder, the plastic of the other barrel portion engaging in the threads of said tube to hold the same together.

2. A pencil including a barrel having upper and lower portions comprising a lower tapered portion and an upper cylindrical portion, a tube within said cylindrical portion, a ared end on said tube securing said tube to said cylindrical portion, the other end of said tube embedded within said tapered barrel portion, and means adhering said two` barrel portions together.

3. A pencil including a barrel, a rotatable head thereupon,L a tube extending from said head, a collar frictionally engaging the outside of said tube ata point spaced from the end to engage one side of said head and a flared end on said tube engaging thev other side of said head to hold said tube to saidhead.

4. A pencil including a barrel, a rotatable head thereupon having an aperture therethrough, a tube extending through said aperture, a flared end on said tube, and a collar on said tube engagable against said head, said head being 'held between said iiared end and said collar.

5. Apencil including a two-part plastic barrel including an upper part and a lower part, a tip 'anchored to said lower part of said pencil, a tube anchored within said ,lower part of said pencil and extending therefrom, and a flared end on said tube engaging said upper part of said tube and securing said two parts of said tube together.

MARTIN E. TROLLEN. 

